Plto-receptacle for use with rugs



H. R. SARGENT.

PLUG RECEPTACLE FOR USE WITH BUGS APPLICATION FILED DEC-6.19M.

Patented A11 12, 1919.

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vum. IIIIIIII I IQ w k na ,0 e w W vd III 0 H M m y 6 UNITED STATES HOWARD R. SARGENT,

O'F SCHENECTADY, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NOR T GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PLUG-RECEPTACLE FOR USE WITH BUGS.

Speciflcatidn of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 12, 1919.

Application filed December 6, 1917. Serial No. 205,883.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD R. SARGENT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Schenectady, in the county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Plug-Re ceptacles for Use with Rugs, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to connectors for electric circuits of the type in which a receptacle is let in flush with a floor and contains main line terminals adapted to make contact with the terminal members of a branch circuit carried by a plug when thrust into conducting relation therewith.

The object of this invention is to provide such a receptacle with improved contact making connections for passing through rugs, carpets and the like in a safe and eflicient manner without damage to the carpet.

Where plugs were used with the floor receptacles of the prior art to make connections for a branch circuit, through a carpet, rug or the like, large, unsightly holes must needs be formed or cut in the carpet or rug to admit the plug. This interposition of the rug or carpet interfered with the contacts and repeated removal and attachment of the plug invariably resulted in the defacement or'mutilation of the carpet or rug.

My invention is designed to overcome these difliculties and to this end I employ a detachable intermediate contact making device arranged to cooperate with the floor receptacle and to pass upwardly snugly through the rug or carpet and to receive in its end projecting above the carpet the contact makmg terminals of the branch circuit carried by its plug, thereby avoiding their insertion through the rug or carpet and by reason of its detachability from the receptacle the latter is adapted to be closed flush with the floor surface.

For a more complete understanding of the nature and objects of my invention, reference maybe had to the following detailed description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Figure 1 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, of a receptacle and plug embodying my invention in assembled relation, while Fig.2 is a section thereof taken at right angles to Fig. 1 showing the parts in detached relation.

Referring now to the drawing, 5 denotes an ordinary floor receptacle having a top- ;27 adapted to.

have the opening plate 6 designed to beset flush with the floor and containing an insulating base 7 for the circuit terminals. An intermediate base 8 is adapted to detachably cooperate with the receptacle and positioned below the floor level except for a narrow neck portion 9 passing through a correspondingly narrow hole in the rug or carpet 10 and arranged to receive he contactmembers of the branch circuit of the separable plug member 11.

The base 7 which is made of molded porcelain or other suitable material is conveniently mounted on a U-shaped supporting member 12- the ends of which rest in an annular recess 13 formed in the upper portion of the receptacle5. The base 17 has secured thereto two spring like terminal contact members 14: and 15 to which leads 16 and 17 from the main line may be secured by binding screws 18 and 19, which leads are sliown as entering the receptacle 5 through openings 20. The contact members 14 and 15 are protected by an insulating member 21 surrounding them which is suitably secured to the base 7 as by the screw shown at 22.

' The intermediate base 8 may also be made of molded porcelain andhas narrow rectangular openings or tunnels 23 extending upwardly through the narrow neck 9. In these openings are secured contact members 24 and 25, slightly bowed and each having a' down-.

wardly extending prong as shown at 26 and be brought into contact with he sprmg contacts Hand 15 when the intermediate base 8 is put in place.

The intermediate base 8 also has secured thereto a perforated supporting plate 28 designed to rest on the top of flush plate 6 when the intermediate base 8 is in place and thus provides a smooth surface and support for the rug or carpet 1O lying over the receptacle as shown in Fig. 1. I

The neck 9 of the intermediate base 8 slightly projects above the surface of the rug or carpet 10 when in position and is hence well ada ted to receive the projecting contact mem ers 30 and 31 carried on the upper base-or cap 11 and without any live metal "part being brought into contact wlth the rug or carpet.

The top plate 6 of the receptacle 5 may which is formed to receive the intermediate base 8, screw threaded as shown at 33 so that if the intermediate base b rem ed fo app i e tlme, a

disk may be screwed into this opening to provide a smooth floor surface.

While I have shown and described a articular embodiment of my invention which is at present the best means known to me for carrying the same into effect, I would have it understood that this is merely illustrative and that I do not mean to be limited to the precise details herein disclosed nor in the choice of mechanical equivalents eX- cept as defined in my claims hereunto annexed.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. The combination with a receptacle having contact terminals therein, of a plug having projecting contact members, an intermeiate device having a contracted neck portion and contact making fingers secured therein arranged to contact with said terminals when the device is inserted in said receptacle, said neck receive the projecting members on said plug, and a radial supporting plate secured to said intermediate device at the base of said neck portion.

2. The combination with a floor receptacle having contact terminals thereon, of an upper base having projecting contact members thereon, an intermediate base having a neck with tunnels formed therein to receive the projecting members on said upper base, contact'inaking members in said tunnels and secured to said intermediate base having projecting portions adapted to contact with said receptacle terminals, and a plate secured portion arranged tojecting from the lower to said intermediate base, arranged to make a flush surface with the floor when said intermediate base is inserted in said receptacle.

3. The combination with a floor receptacle adapted to receive electric conductors hav ing therein a supportin member, a base thereon, contact termina s secured thereto, anda projecting insulatin member, of an upper base adapted to receive a branch circuit cable having projecting contact members thereon and an intermediate base formed with a neck arranged to pass throu h a rug or the like and having tunnels t erethrough to receive the projecting members on said upper base, contact making members in said tunnels and secured to sai intermediate base having projecting portions adapted to contact with said rece tacle terminals and a plate secured to said intermediate base, arranged to rest upon the floor when said intermediate base is inserted in said receptacle. 7

4. An intermediate part for flush receptacles comprising an insulating base with a contracted neck portion projecting from its upper end and tunnels extending longitudinally therethrough, contacts secured in the said tunnels and having contact fingers proend of said base, and a radial supporting plate secured to said base about the contracted neck portion thereof.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 5th day of December, 1917.

HOWARD R. SARGENT. 

